also dictums
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How to Use Dictum in Law and Beyond
The word dictum is frequently used in philosophy, but also in economics, political science, and other fields. Almost any condensed piece of wisdom—"The perfect is the enemy of the good", "Buy low, sell high", "All politics is local", etc.—can be called a dictum. In the law, judges may often add to a written opinion an obiter dictum, or "statement made in passing"—a strong statement that isn't directly relevant to the case being decided. If they're well thought out and eloquent, obiter dicta (notice the plural form) may be referred to by later judges and lawyers for years afterward.
Examples of dictum in a Sentence
John Ganz, Harper's Magazine, 22 May 2024
Perhaps with that dictum in mind, House Speaker Mike Johnson recently sat down with a ...
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 3 June 2024
This dictum—to honor and to applaud—brought me to Charleston this past December.
—Latria Graham, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 May 2023
The calories are the biggest count on the nutrition label, and all of the dictums from the USDA over the last few decades, many people feel very misguided to cut fat, to not worry about carbs.
—Chris Klimek, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for dictum 
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dictum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near dictum
Cite this Entry
“Dictum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dictum. Accessed 7 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dictum
noun
also dictums
Legal Definition
dictum
noun
called also obiter dictum
compare holding, judgment, precedent, stare decisisNote: Dicta have persuasive value in making an argument, but they are not binding as precedent.
Latin, utterance, from neuter of dictus, past participle of dicere to say
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